Pull rod carrier



y' 1942- t A. M. ROSSMAN I 2,281,601

PULL R015 CARRIER Filed July 10, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

May 5, 1942. A. M. ROSSMAN PULL ROD CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10 1940 R. Y. O U m i I A W W G R 6 E m 0 .1 5 W 5 w fih I A I 7 3-1! 5 1 J 4 w E M in 5 M mm a?! E a 2 a .5.5 M a N 2 n 4 6 5 N Patented May 5, 1942 ii FF 12 Claims.

This invention is an improvement of the invention shown in my pending application, Serial No. 272,865, filed May 10, 1939, and relates to pull rod carriers.

Pull rod carriers of the type with which the present invention is particularly concerned are used for supporting pull rods which reciprocate to transmit power from a central source to a distant point of utilization, as, for instance, to oil pumps in multiple oil well pumping operations. It is one of the objects of the present invention to reduce the friction loss in the pull rod carrier.

In some installations a considerable amount of power is transmitted by the reciprocating movement of a rod that extends through avery great distance, sometimes exceeding thousands of feet. Such reciprocating pull rods are supported by carriers spaced short distances apart. The present invention is concerned with the provision of such a carrier which comprises a series of links and levers so arranged as to support the pull rod in its reciprocating motion and in which there is a minimum number of bearings, to reduce the friction losses.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a pull rod carrier for supporting and guiding a pull rod as it moves horizontally, which pull rod carrier shall have substantially a straight line motion and shall be simple and reliable in its action and economical of construction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pull rod carrier wherein all of the parts may be mounted upon a single supporting column or pillar and which requires a minimum number of joints. It is a still the present invention to provide a pull rod carrier which can be assembled from short lengths of rods such as are usually available as discarded material in places Where pull rods are used. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a pull rod carrier with a straight line operating mechanism which is substantially balanced throughout its range of movement.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a pull rod carrier of the above mentioned character which may be assembled at a central point and requires a minimumamount of assembling in the field.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a pull rod carrier embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view taken at right angles to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the carrier of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of another pull rod rier embodying the present invention;

Figure 5 is a front view of the carrier of Figure 4, with the linkage in one extreme position; and

Figure 6 is an end View of this carrier with the linkage thereof moved to the central position.

Reference may now be had more particularlyto Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings wherein like: reference numerals indicate like parts throughout. The pull rod carrier is indicated at I and includes a supporting column '2 which is mounted in a vertical position in any suitable manner as, for instance, by being set in a concrete foundation. A horizontally projecting bearing support 3 comprising a cylindrical rod 4 welded to a channel bracket 5 is firmly secured to the supporting column by a U-bolt 6. A pair of wooden bearing blocks l8 are rigidly clamped to the bearing support 3 by U-bolts 9 9. An arm l2 of a link I3 is journalled in the bearing blocks 'I-3. The link It includes a portion M extending at right angles to the arm l2, and'a portion 15 extending parallel to the arm I2. The portions I2, I l and I5 comprise metal rods welded together. The portion I5 of the link- I3 is journalled in a wooden bearing block it that is secured to an arm H of an S shaped link IS. The

car-

further object of 35 bearing block 16 is secured to the arm H by a U'- bolt I9. The link l8 includes oppositely extending lengths 2E] and 21 parallel to one anotherwelded at right angles to and on opposite ends of the arm ii. The length 2%! has an arm 22 and the length 2| has an arm 23 extending therefrom. The link I8 which includes the arms ll, 22 and 23 and the lengths 2i) and 2! constitutes one rigid structure of rod welded or otherwise suitably secured together. The arm 22 is journalled in a wooden bearing block 24. The arm 23 has a wooden pull rod carriage 25 se cured thereto, the arm beingjournalled in the carriage. The bearing block 24 is suitably se-- cured to a guide arm 21 as by bolts 28 welded tonuts 29 at their ends 2'! and the block 24 the guide arm and having for securing the guide arm together. bearing block 3i! similarly secured thereto, as by bolts 3| welded to the guide arm 21 and receiv ing nuts 32 at their ends. The guide arm 21 is The guide arm 21 has a second wood' extended to the right of the block 30, as seen in Figure l, to act as a counterweight for counterbalancing the mechanism. The block is journalled on a stationary horizontal rod 33 which acts as a stationary pivot for the block 30. The rod 33 is at the end of an arm 34 that is rigidly secured to the supporting column 2 in any desired manner. The rod 33 and the arm 34 constitute one integral structure, and may comprise two separate rods welded together or a single rod bent to the shape indicated. The guide arm 2! thus has a swinging motion about the rod 33 as a center. A stop is secured to the supporting column 2 and projects therefrom into the path of movement of the bearing block 24 at its lower limit of motion, and thus limits the extent of downward movement of the bearing block 24. v

The pull rod carriage 25 comprises a block of Wood or the like having a V-shaped groove 38 in which a pull rod, indicated at 40, rests. The pull rod is supported by the block 25 and is free to slide in the groove 38 thereof.

An explanation will now be given of the mode of operation of the construction thus far described. The link I3 is capable of oscillating about the center I2. As a result the portion I5 of the link I3 moves in the arc of a circle indicated at M. The guiding arm 2'! moves about the rod 33 as a center thus guiding the center of the block 24 along an arc, indicated at 42. The part 22 of the link I8 is thus guided along the are 42 while another part of the link I8 is guided along the arc M. The radii of these two arcs, and the relative spacings of the centers, and the distance between the center I5 and the center of the arm 23 that extends through the carriage 25 is such that the locus of the center of 23 approximates a straight line. The locus of the center of 23 is indicated by the dot-dash line 44. As the pull rod 43 moves to the left from the position indicated in Figure 1, the link I8 moves the link I3 in a counter-clockwise direction thus raising the center of the rod I5. At the same time, it moves the guide arm 2! in a clockwise direction. When the link I3 and the link I8 are in substantial alignment or in toggle, as seen in Figure 2, the block 24 is in the position indicated at 45 in Figure 1. Further movement of the .pull rod 4!] to the left causes continued counter-clockwise turning of the link and causes a reversal of the direction of turning of the guide arm 21 about the center 33. When the pull rod reaches its limit of travel leftward from the position illustrated in Figure 1 the guide arm 27 has returned to the position illustrated in Figure 1, and the link I3 is on the side of the supporting column 2 opposite that illustrated in Figure 1. The pull rod now reverses its direction of movement and causes a reversal of the operation of the linkage. During the entire movement of the pull rod it is supported by the carriage 25 which moves in approximately a horizontal straight line.

Should it be necessary to remove the pull rod from the carriage 25 it is necessary merely to lift it out of the groove 38 and without disassembling the linkage. While the pull rod is out of the carriage 25 the linkage may assume any position between its two extreme positions. When the pull rod 40 is replaced on the carriage the mechanism is again ready for operation. As-

sume, for instance, that when the pull rod is removed from the carriage the carriage was in its extreme left hand position and that when the pull rod is replaced on the carriage the carriage is in the position illustrated in Figure 1. This means that the initial movement of the pull rod 40 is in a direction to the right of that illustrated in Figure 1. When such movement takes place the pull rod slides in the carriage 25 but cannot draw the linkage with it because the stop 36 prevents further counter-clockwise movement of the guide arm 21. The pull rod thus slides in the carriage 25 until the pull rod reaches its extreme limit of motion. Upon reversal of the direction of movement of the pull rod the linkage commences to operate in a manner previously described. The permissive movement of the carriage 25, as limited by the stop 36, is slightly greater than the maximum amplitude of oscillation of the pull rod 40.

In order to obtain a substantially straight line locus for the carriage 25, the links should be of the relative sizes illustrated in the drawing. In one construction the center to center distance between the arms I2 and I5 of the link I3 was 19%, inches, the center to center distance between the arm I5 and the arm 22 of the link I8 was 16 inches, the center to center distance between the arm I5 and the arm 23 of the link I8 was 13% inches, the center to center distance from the arm 33 to the arm 22 was 9 inches, and the height of the center of the arm 33 above the center of the arm I2 was 29% inches. The pivot center I5 is approximately midway of the pivot centers 22-23 of the S shaped link I8 but slightly closer to the center 23 than to the center 22. This produced an approximately straight line locus of the center 23 of 42 inches with a maximum deviation from a straight line so small as to be insignificant.

It is to be noted that the bearing blocks I6, 24, 25 and 30 all lie in the same vertical plane. This reduces the stress on the linkage.

If desired the supporting column 2 may be appreciably foreshortened, and the stationary rod 33-34 which supports the pivot block 30 may be mounted on the end of a rod secured to the foreshortened column. Likewise the various links of the mechanism may be made of individual lengths of rod suitably bent to shape. Such a construction is illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6. In this embodiment of the present invention the pull rod carrier is a pre-assembled unit and includes the bracket 5 which may be bolted or otherwise secured to the top of the supportingcolumn 2' in any desired manner, as by the U- bolt 6. A rod 50, which is bent to the shape illustrated in Figure 6, is welded to the bracket 5. The rod 50 includes a base portion SI and a top portion 52 parallel to the base portion. This forms an open U shaped or C shaped support. The base portion 5| extends along the web of the channel bracket 5 and is welded thereto along the full length of the overlapped part of the base portion 5I. The base portion 5! constitutes a support for two wooden bearings 54 and 55 that are bolted thereto in any desired manner as, for instance, by U-bolts 56. A link 58, which is of a shape similar to that of the rod 50 and includes arms 59 and 60 parallel to one another, is journalled in the bearings 5455. A generally S shaped link 63 has a bearing block 64 secured thereto, as by a U-bolt '65, which bearing block is journalled on the arm 60 of the link 58. At one end the S shaped link 63 is journalled in a bearing block 61 which is secured to the bar 68 as by a U-bolt 69 welded to the bar at its bight portion. A plate III fits over the ends of the U-bolt and secures the bearing blocks 6'! in place, as by nuts threaded on the ends of the U-bolt 69. The bar 68 carries another bearing block I2 secured thereto in the same manner. The bearing block i2 is journalled in the stationary arm 52 of the rod d. The opposite end of the S shaped link 63 extends through the carriage that supports the pull rod 40 in the same manner as in the construction i1- lustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

A short rod '35 is welded or otherwise secured to the rod 50 and extends into the path of movement of the bearing block 61 and acts as a stop to limit the extent of movement of the bar 68.

The links 58 and B3 and the rod 50 may be made of iron rods which are bent to the shape illustrated, in any desired manner.

It is believed that the operation of the carrier of Figures 4, 5 and 6 will be apparent from the description previously given. The stop (5 acts as a limiting stop to limit the movement of the carriage 25 in each direction on opposite sides of the center line.

The pull rod carriers above described are particularly useful in multiple oil well pumping operations wherein pull rods extend from a central source of power to each of a large number of pumps. The pull rods are pulled in one direction by the source of power, to operate the pumps, and are pulled in the opposite direction by the weight on the sucker rods of the pumps. Reference may be had to my pending application, Serial No. 272,865, for an illustration of such a multiple pumping system. It is suflicient here to state that in such pumping operations power may be transmitted by a continuous length of pull rod over a distance of many thousands of feet, the amplitude of reciprocation being of the order of 30 inches to 45 inches. Such pull rods are supported a short distance above the ground, the supports being spaced approximately 25 feet. In such an arrangement it is sometimes necessary to stop the power mechanism and lower a pull rod to the ground level to permit a vehicle to pass over the same. In the present construction this may easily be done by merely lifting the pull rod out of the carriage 25 and moving it a slight amount laterally to permit lowering of the same to the ground level. When the pull rod is replaced upon the carriage 25 it is not necessary that the rod and the carriage be in exactly the same relative positions as they were when the pull rod was moved from the carriage. If the carriage of the carrier has, in the meantime, moved from its initial position this will not afiect the operation of the carrier. Upon the initial reciprocating movement of the pull rod the carrier will move with the pull rod until the stop i5 is encountered at one or the other limit of motion of the carrier. If the pull rod then continues its movement in the same direction it merely slides on the carriage 25 until the pull rod reverses its direction of travel, as previously described. The pull rod carrier is designed so that the carriage has a permissible substantially straight line movement of an amplitude determined by the stop l5, which is slightly in excess of the amplitude of reciprocation of the pull rod 48.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have here shown and described a few preferred embodiments of my invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise constructions here shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a system wherein power is transmitted from a power source to a distant point of utilization by a reciprocating pull rod, means for supporting the pull rod intermediate the ends thereof comprising a column secured in the ground and extending upward therefrom, two links pivoted about parallel stationary horizontal axes carried by the column and spacedxvertically of one another but in difierent vertical planes, a third link pivotally connecting the two links and extending substantially below its pivot with each of the first two links, said pivots being so spaced that a point on the extended part of the third link has a substantially straight line horizontal motion as the linkage is actuated, and a pull rod support carried by said last link at the straight line motion point thereof.

2. In a system wherein power is transmitted from a power source to a distant point of utilization by a reciprocatingpull rod, means for supporting the pull rod intermediate the ends thereof comprising two links pivoted about parallel stationary horizontal axes spaced vertically of one another but in different vertical planes, a third link pivotally connecting the two links and extending substantially below its pivot with one of the links, said pivots being so spaced that a point on the extended part of the third link has a substantially straight line horizontal motion as the linkage is actuated, a pull rod support carried by said last link at the straight line motion point thereof, and stop means cooperating with the upper one of said links for limiting the motion of said support.

3. A pull rod carrier for supporting a pull rod intermediate the ends thereof in a system wherein power is transmitted from a power source to a distant point of utilization by a reciprocating pull rod, said carrier comprising a pair of supporting links pivoted about parallel horizontal axes spaced from one another horizontally and vertically, a third link pivoted to the lower supporting link about an axis approximately midway of the third link said third link including an intermediate portion from the two ends of which parallel arms extend in opposite directions, one arm being pivoted to the upper supporting link, and a pull rod carriage pivoted on the other arm of the third link.

4. A pull rod carrier for supporting a pull rod intermediate the ends thereof in a system wherein power is transmitted from a power source to a distant point of utilization by a reciprocating pull rod, said carrier comprising a pair of sup-- porting links pivoted about parallel horizontal axes spaced from one another horizontally and vertically, an S shaped link pivoted to the lower supporting link about an axis approximately midway ofthe s-shaped link and pivoted at its up per end to the upper supporting link, and a pull rod carriage pivoted on the lower end of the S shaped link, the lower end of the S shaped link being between the carriage and the lower one of the supporting links whereby the pull rod may be placed on to or removed from'the carriage while the carrier remains assembled.

5. A pull rod carrier comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to a support, a rod secured to the bracket, a pair of aligned bearings secured to the rod, a link having an arm at one end at approximately right angles to the rest of the link, said arm being journalled in said bearings, the

opposite end of the link having another arm parallel to the first arm and extending from the rest of the link in the same direction as the first arm, an S shaped link pivoted to said second arm by a bearing which is an equal distance from said aligned bearings, a third link pivoted about an axis parallel to said arms by a bearing which is also an equal distance from, said aligned bearings, a pivotal connection between said third link and one end of the S shaped link by a bearing which is also an equal distance from said first named bearings, and a pull rod carriage pivoted on the opposite end of the S shaped link.

6. A pull rod carrier comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to a support, a rod secured to the bracket, a pair of aligned bearings secured to the rod. a link having an arm at one end at approximately right angles to the rest of the link, said arm being journalled in said bearings, the opposite end of the link having another arm parallel to the first arm and extending from the rest of the link in the same direction as the first arm, an S shaped link pivoted to said second arm by a bearing which is an equal distance from said aligned bearings, a third link pivoted about an axis parallel to said arms by a bearing which is also an equal distance from said aligned bearings, a pivotal connection between said third link and one .end of the S shaped link by a bearing which is also an equal distance from said first named bearings, a pull rod carriage pivoted on the opposite end of the S shaped link, and a stop against which the third link abuts as it moves in a direction towards the first mentioned link arm for limiting the motion of the carrier.

'7. A pull rod carrier comprising a first link and a second link pivoted for oscillation about a parallel horizontal axes spaced from one another, a third link pivotally connecting the ends of the two links and extended beyond the pivot with one of the links, a pull rod carriage carried by said extended part, the third link passing through a toggle position with the first link at approximately midway of the arc of travel of said first link whereby the second link reverses its direction of travel as the toggle position is passed and makes a complete cycle of operation for each half cycle of operation of the first link, and a stop against which said second link can abut in its motion in one direction for limiting the movement of the first link and the carriage in either direction of movement.

8. A pull rod carrier comprising a first link and a second link pivoted for oscillation about parallel horizontal axes spaced from one another so that the plane determined by said axes is at an inclination to the vertical and to the horizontal, a third link pivotally connecting the ends of the two links and extended beyond the pivot with one of the links, a pull rod carriage carried by said extended part, the third link passing through a toggle position with the first link at approximately midway of the arc of travel of said first link whereby the second link reverses its direction of travel as the toggle position is passed and makes a complete cycle of operation for each half cycle of operation of the first link, and a stop against which said second link can abut in its motion in one direction for limiting the movement of the first link and the carriage in either direction of movement.

9. Means for supporting a pull rod, comprising two links pivoted about parallel stationary horizontal axes spaced vertically of one another, a

third link pivotally connecting the two links and extending substantially below its pivot with one of the links, said pivots being so spaced that a point on the extended part of the third link has a substantially straight line horizontal motion as the linkage is actuated, a pull rod support carried by said last link at the straight line motion point thereof, and stop means cooperating with the upper one of said links for limiting the motion of said support.

10. A pull rod carrier for supporting a pull rod intermediate the ends thereof in a system wherein power is transmitted from a power source to a distant point of utilization by a reciprocating pull rod, said carrier comprising a pair of supporting links pivoted about parallel horizontal axes spaced from one another horizontally and vertically, a third link pivoted to the lower supporting link about an axis approximately midway of the third link and pivoted at its upper end to the upper supporting link, and a pull rod carriage pivoted on the lower end of the third link, the lower end of the third link being between the carriage and the lower one of the supporting links whereby the pull rod may be placed on to or removed from the carriage while the carrier remains assembled.

11. A pull rod carrier comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to a support, a rod secured to the bracket, a pair of aligned bearings secured to the rod, a link having an arm at one end at approximately right angles to the rest of the link, said arm being journalled in said bearings, the opposite end of the link having another arm parallel to the first arm and extending from the rest of the link in the same direction as the first arm, a second link pivoted to said second arm by a bearing which is an equal distance from said aligned bearings, a third link pivoted about an axis parallel to said arms by a bearing which is also an equal distance from said aligned bearings, a pivotal connection between said third link and one end of the second link by a hearing which is also an equal distance from said first named bearings, and a pull rod carriage pivoted on the opposite end of the second link.

' 12. A pull rod carrier comprising a first link and a second link pivoted for oscillation about parallel horizontal axes spaced from one another, a third link pivotally connecting the ends of the two links and extended beyond the pivot with one of the links, a pull rod carriage carried by said extended part, the third link passing through a toggle position with the first link whereby the second link reverses its direction of travel as the toggle position is passed, and a stop against which said second link can abut in its motion in one direction for limitng the movement of the first link and the carriage in either direction of movement.

ALLEN M. ROSSMAN. 

